Portugal gets its name from the Comitatus Portaculenis fiefdom which
extended around the old Roman seaport of Portus Cale; now Oporto.

The Visigoths came along in the 5th century and were followed by
the Moors in the 8th century. Both of their styles can still be seen in Portugal's older
buildings and churches.

Bermudo II, king of Leon, retook the northern territory, between the
Douro and Minho rivers, from the Moors in 997 and by 1064 Ferdinand I, king of
Castile and Leon had completed the reconquest as far south as present-day Coimbra.

Alfonso Henriques, later Alfonso I, king of Portugal, rebelled against
his mother and Spanish fiefdom in 1128, and in 1179 the pope recognised the independence
of Portugal.

King Alfonso III completed the expulsion of the Moors from the Algarve
and relocated the capital of Portugal, from Coimbra to Lisbon, during his reign (1248 to
1279).

In the 15th century Henry the Navigator, prince of Portugal,
encouraged exploration of the African coast for an eastward route to the Indies to bypass
Arab taxation and hostilities the traders might face in the Middle East.

The eventual route to India was not
discovered until after Henry's death though: Vasco da Gama, in his voyage of 1497-1499,
followed Bartolomeu Dias's 1487-1488 rounding of Africa
and started the lucrative sea trading between Europe and Asia.

Visit
Portugal:
Enjoy the sunny climate and diverse geographic features of Portugal by discovering what is
unique about each region: Alentejo, Algarve, Azores, Beiras Centro de Portugal, Lisboa e
Vale do Tejo, Madeira and Porto e Norte de Portugal.

Only 30km from Lisbon, you would be missing out if you didn't
leave the capital for a visit to Sintra - a UNESCO World Heritage Site and once referred
to by Lord Byron as 'this glorious Eden'.

Sintra
Sightseeing:
Abounding in history the town of Sintra is dominated by the two conical chimneys of the
Palacio Nacional da Vila - the summer home of the Portuguese royal family since the 15th
Century.

Hotel Nova Sintra:
Ideally located in the old part of the village of
Sintra with beautiful views over the unique hillside of this immortal landscape.

Quinta
Verde Sintra:
If you're looking for a little turismo rural, a stay at this restored country house, with
swimming pool, might be ideal for you.